Boxing History

Boxing history articles

Another boxing movie on the scene; Chuck Wepner gets the silver screen treatment

Heavyweight slugger Chuck Wepner, who is most famous for two things: his (almost) 15-round fight with Muhammad Ali and his part in inspiring the Rocky movies. Now, in “The Bleeder,” the 75 year old gets some more movie treatment; and this time the biographical flick is of the non fiction variety.

Played by Liev Schrieber, Wepner – who also faced Sonny Liston and George Foreman during his long and often cut-prone career – is said to like the film and fans are hoping for a fitting tribute to one of heavyweight history’s great survivors.

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Hagler-Hearns – when they tried to set up a rematch

Hagler-Hearns - when they tried to set up a rematch

Once again, Marvellous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns would box under the bright lights of Las Vegas, this time together, on the same night, against dangerous opposition. It was almost a full year after these two warriors had gone to hell and back against one other, and the grand plan for promoter Bob Arum was to set up a Hagler-Hearns II. Fans got two thrilling fights for their money this night in 1986 – one ending via violently quick KO, the other being an absolute war of attrition – as a rematch of the greatest fight in history was in the works.

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Roberto Duran: The Greatest Living Fighter!

Roberto Duran: The Greatest Living Fighter!

While the movie celebrating and paying (reasonably accurate) tribute to is currently enjoying only what one could call mixed reviews at best, the great, the legendary Roberto Duran is many fans’ pick when it comes to listing the greatest living boxer/fighter.

Who am I to disagree with The bible (of boxing) Ring Magazine, but I’m not alone when I feel the publication, so much a staple of fight fans’ lives for so many years, got it wrong when they recently listed Sugar Ray Leonard as the greatest surviving fighter. It’s a close one, granted, but in the opinion of many Duran and all his accomplishments tops Leonard as the very best.

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“No Mas,” still the biggest mystery in boxing history

“No Mas,” still the biggest mystery in boxing history

Who killed JFK?

Whatever happened to Lord Lucan?

Where did Jimmy Hoffa go?

The above mysteries of history are likely to never, ever be solved and we are destined to be at the mercy of the conspiracy theorists when it comes to answers. But in the sport of boxing there are arguably two fights /events /strange endings that continue to top the list when it comes to asking, what really happened? These two fights are the Ali-Liston fights of the mid 1960s, and the second Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard fight of 1980 (okay, that’s actually three fights).

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What if: George Chuvalo-Henry Cooper? Chuvalo gives his take

What if: George Chuvalo-Henry Cooper? Chuvalo gives his take

A British heavyweight legend and a Canadian heavyweight great: Sir Henry Cooper (RIP) and George Chuvalo; two heavyweights who both added considerably to their respective careers by twice facing “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali. But they never fought each other, even though it could easily have happened – really should have happened – in the 1960s. Cooper was the reigning Commonwealth heavyweight champion throughout much of that decade (and before that, in the late ‘50s, as well as into the early 1970s) and during this era there was a dangerous and hungry Chuvalo, eager to get his shot.

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Rematch! Some potentially great ones that never took place

Rematch! Some potentially great ones that never took place

Rematch, rematch, rematch! The following fights could have, should have happened, yet for whatever reason they did not materialise. How interesting would these massive fights have been?

Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko II.

The heavyweight rumble the world champion and the future WBC champion put on in June of 2003 was a savagely entertaining affair. The two giants traded hard, potentially knockout blows, for half a dozen fantastically entertaining rounds – only for a definitive conclusion to the war failing to materialise due to the horrific cuts Klitschko had picked up. As such, the fans left the arena desperately craving more.

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Is Sugar Ray Leonard the greatest living fighter? Ring Magazine experts say yes!

Is Sugar Ray Leonard the greatest living fighter? Ring Magazine experts say yes!

The Bible of Boxing, Ring Magazine recently took it upon itself to try and rank the ten greatest living fighters. With the recent, sad passing of the incomparable Muhammad Ali, the editors, with contributions from various experts, set to work compiling their top-10. A mammoth task, one sure to court debate, even controversy (something the editors of Ring fully expected and are prepared for!) picking these ten special fighters resulted in the following list:

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Don King has great plans: to bring us “Rumble in The Jungle II” in honour of Muhammad Ali

Don King has great plans: to bring us “Rumble in The Jungle II” in honour of Muhammad Ali

It was a truly landmark event not only in boxing, but in the careers of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, in black music and in the career of the man behind it all, Don King. It was “The Rumble in The Jungle” of 1974 and, in honour of The Greatest, who as we all know passed away in June of this year, promoter extraordinaire King is planning a sequel, a “Rumble in The Jungle II” as it were.

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As Caesars Palace celebrates 50 years, boxing legends Ali and Hearns receive prestigious Icon Awards

As Caesars Palace celebrates 50 years, boxing legends Ali and Hearns receive prestigious Icon Awards

A huge party was taking place last night in Las Vegas, as the iconic and quite beautiful hotel Caesars Palace celebrated its 50th birthday. The hotel, one of the oldest in Las Vegas, opened its doors on August 5, 1966 and a weekend-long series of celebrations came to and end with a stunning fireworks display last night. Fight fans of course used to regularly pack out Caesars Palace when the biggest fights, the most special fights, took place there.

Throughout its history, Caesars Palace played host to, amongst many others, the following unforgettable boxing nights and fights: George Foreman-Ron Lyle, Larry Holmes-Ken Norton, Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns.

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